A/N: Okay, here you go! I know that I only glossed over Christmas, but I really wanted to get to the Horcrux. Many thanks for the words of wisdom and kindness. I really appreciate it. Enjoy this chapter, and I hope I hear from you soon!
Okay, we are up to chapter 38, and nothing has changed. I still don't own the characters, but they still mean a lot to me.
Chapter 38
A Drink to Your Death?
After a quick visit with the twins and an abridged version of their visit to Little Hangleton, the three weary travelers headed back to the castle. They managed to avoid everyone else and made it back to their common room without incident. Ron grabbed the shower first, so Harry flopped on the couch and closed his eyes. He felt Hermione sit at the other end and opened one eye to see her resting with her eyes closed. He watched she licked her lips and he conjured a glass of ice water for her. The tinkling of the ice in the glass made her open her eyes, and she gratefully took the glass from him, and drank as Harry moved closer to her. She looked at him warily as he settled next to her. Harry was silent for a while; staring at his hands while Hermione finally relaxed and leaned her head back.
"Thanks for coming with me today," he finally said.
"That's what friends are for," she said without opening her eyes.
Harry watched her for a few moments before dropping back against the couch.
"I blew it, didn't I?" he asked.
Hermione sat up and looked at him, but didn't answer.
Harry looked over at her and she could see the remorse in his eyes.
"I care for you so much, and I didn't want anything to happen to you. That's why I tried to push you away."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said as she reached out and touched his arm. Harry covered her hand with his own.
"Do you know what I found out? I can't get rid of you. I'm always thinking about you. You've invaded my mind, and my heart."
Hermione reached up and touched the side of his cheek. Harry closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth.
"I know I'm asking for a lot Hermione, but please give me another chance. I'm not too good at this relationship stuff, but I'm lost without you. I need you."
There. He had done it. He came as close as he could to saying `I love you'. He was afraid to open his eyes, and even with the gentle pressure of her hand forcing him to turn his head, he refused to do so. He sat there, waiting for her to say something, and was shocked when he suddenly felt her soft, hesitant lips upon his. A thrill coursed through him, and he wrapped his arms around her, deepening the kiss, trying to show her what he couldn't say yet. When he finally came up for air, he gently cupped her face in his hands.
"I promise," he whispered, "I will never push you away again."
"You won't," Hermione smiled. "I won't let you."
Harry leaned in to kiss her again when the bathroom door opened. He reluctantly moved away from her as Ron came out.
"Who's next?" he said.
Hermione smiled and stood up, squeezing Harry's hand before heading towards the bathroom.
"You guys kiss and make up?" Ron said as he toweled his hair dry.
Harry smiled, feeling better than he had for days. "You could say that," he said.
****** ****** ****** ******
Harry's heart was lighter than it had been for months, even though they hadn't been able to exorcise the soul out of the cup. The sense of urgency to finish his task was always there, but the simple knowledge that he still had a chance with Hermione made the burden a little easier to bear. His training with Moody had improved greatly, and he had even managed to knock out the grizzly Auror a few times.
There hadn't been much news about Voldemort, except for the odd disappearance of a witch or wizard. The presumption was that they had gone to join Voldemort, or that they were perhaps under the Imperius curse. Harry woke up one night a few days after their trip to Little Hangleton, his scar burning fiercely. He figured that Voldemort had found out about the Riddle house. He was extra careful to keep his occulemency shields up. The paper had run a story about the fire, and according to the reporter, an eyewitness had claimed there was a gang of teens who knocked him out and torched the house for fun. Hermione laughed at that, saying that he probably didn't want to admit to the Dark Lord that he had started the fire.
It was Christmas Eve, and Ron had already retired for the night. Harry and Hermione were sitting together on the couch in front of the fire. It was quiet, except for the crackling of the logs. Hermione was leaning against Harry, reading `Mystic Forces Moste Evil' that she had found in the restricted section, and Harry was lost in thought about a little velvet bag and its contents in his invisipouch. They had almost gone back to where they were in their relationship, and Harry didn't want to ruin things. He had thought about giving it to her for Christmas, but it didn't feel right, not yet. He had found a small golden snitch on a chain that was now wrapped under the tree, right next to the invisipouch for Ron that he had the twins make.
"Sickle for your thoughts?" Hermione asked.
"Not much," Harry replied
"Well," Hermione sighed as she closed her book, "I haven't found anything new in here. I find a lot of these books frustrating because if there is anything we're not supposed to know about, such as blood binding, the Ministry puts in statements to the effect of `Please direct any further inquiries in writing to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.'"
"Hang on," Harry said as he sat up, "What did you say?"
"I said that the Ministry puts in statements-"
"No, no, the part about the blood binding."
"Oh. Well, it just says that many dark wizards have used blood binding as a way to protect their homes from Aurors entering-"
"That's it!" Harry cried as he got up and retrieved the cup from the table. "When Dumbledore went to the cave he had to sacrifice some blood in order for us to get in. Voldemort uses blood like a key. He is so hung up on "purebloods", that he is using that for his Horcruxes. Look," He said holding out the cup. "Ron's blood. Maybe I haven't been able to get it to reveal itself, because I didn't put my blood on it; Ron had already done it. That would explain the tiara. You pricked your finger, remember? That's why it attached itself to you."
"It makes sense…" Hermione said as she pulled the book back towards her. "It says here that once an object is subjected to blood binding, it may only be released by the same person. Where are you going?" she asked.
"To get Ron," Harry said.
"Harry," Hermione said in exasperation. "It's nearly midnight. You're not waking him up."
"Fine," Harry grumbled as he came back and sat down. "We'll do it tomorrow."
"No we won't," Hermione said. "We're going to the Burrow, remember? Mrs. Weasley would be very annoyed if we didn't show, and my parents have been talking about this gathering of the families for months.."
"You're making this very difficult, you know that?" Harry said in mock anger.
Hermione smiled as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "It will still be there when we get to it. For one day, we are not going to think about evil lords, bad souvenirs or his minions," she said.
"Fine," Harry relented as he pulled her closer. "So what shall we do instead?" he asked suggestively.
"How about a `Happy Christmas' kiss?" she said as she pulled his face to hers.
Harry closed his eyes and relaxed back into the couch, bringing Hermione with him. As they explored and caressed, Harry could feel the tingle in him grow into a fully charged power surge. He channeled it back towards Hermione, letting her feel what he was feeling. When they parted, breathless, Hermione could see the smoldering emotions in his eyes.
"I hope all of my presents are that good," Harry said as he hugged her to him.
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out," Hermione said as she snuggled down against his chest and closed her eyes.
****** ****** ****** ******
Christmas day at the Burrow was as festive as ever. Harry figured it was Mrs. Weasley's way of trying to make up for all the horror that seemed to be happening on a regular basis. He looked around the room at all the happy faces, and found himself feeling content. Hermione was standing talking to Luna by the fireplace as she played with the golden snitch hanging from her neck, and Ron was arguing with one of the twins about Quidditch. Mr. Weasley was quizzing Mr. Grangers about the "eckeletric" tools at their dentist office, while Mrs. Granger attempted to help in the kitchen. As he scanned the room his eyes fell on Ginny, sitting off to the side, seemingly staring into space. She didn't seem too happy. He made his way over to stand in front of her.
"All right there, Ginny?" he asked quietly.
Ginny shrugged and sipped her eggnog. Harry sat down beside her, not too sure of what to do.
"So, do you want to talk?" he finally asked.
"It depends," Ginny said. "Are you going to be judgmental again like you were in McGonagall's office?"
Harry looked at her for a moment. "I'll try not to be," he finally said.
Ginny looked around to see if anyone was listening.
"I have a friend who has got himself in trouble, and I don't know how to help him."
"What kind of trouble?" Harry asked.
He's done some things that he's not proud of, and it's really starting to bother him," she said evasively. "I wish I could help him, but I can't."
She suddenly smiled brightly and stood up as her mother came into the room looking for her. Harry sat pondering their conversation, before finally giving up and following the rest of the Weasley clan into the kitchen where the table was straining under all the food.
They had decided to go back to Hogwarts the following day in order to work with the Horcrux. Ron, who was still uneasy with all of this, had insisted that Luna come along with them. Harry agreed, and they spent the latter part of the evening filling her in on what they had been doing. They arrived back at their common room the next morning, and Harry took the cup out of his invisipouch and returned it to its normal size.
"So what do you think I have to do?" Ron said as he reluctantly took the cup from Harry. "Do you think I need to lie down?"
"Let's use the couch," Hermione suggested.
Ron sat down in the middle and took a deep breath; clearing his mind of anything he didn't want Voldemort to see.
"Good thing we've been practicing Occlumency," he said. "It might speed up the process."
"You'll be okay, Ron," Hermione said.
"Right," he said. "Let's do this."
"You know that if there was another way," Harry said.
"Just do it," Ron said grimly, staring at the cup.
"Ostendo Vestri Veneficus," Harry said as he pointed his wand at the cup.
The cup glowed and gave a little shake, and Ron involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut. After a few seconds he opened one eye and looked around.
"Did it work?" he asked.
"I…I don't think so. You're not in a trance," Harry said.
Ron looked down at the cup. It was full of some kind of liquid.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
Harry reached out and took the cup from Ron, and the liquid disappeared. Hermione took the cup from Harry and turned it over, inspecting it.
"Give it back to Ron," Harry said.
As soon as Ron took the cup, the liquid re-appeared.
"Bloody hell," he said as he watched the liquid swirl in the cup. "Do you think it's poison?"
Harry tried to touch the liquid with wand, and then his finger, but every time he got close, it disappeared. Finally, Ron took a sniff, and he looked surprised. He stuck his finger in and very tentatively tasted it. A wide grin broke out on his face.
"It's firewhiskey," he said and he took a large gulp.
"Ron!" Hermione cried. "It could be poisoned!"
"Relax," Ron said. "I think I have to drink it, for the good of the Wizarding world, you know."
He drained the rest of the cup and it refilled itself.
"Wicked!" he said with a grin. "This would be great at a party."
"Great," Hermione muttered, crossing her arms. "We all have to sit her and watch Ron get inebriated."
"Well, he'll lose all his inhibitions this way," Harry said.
"We'll have to watch very closely that the Loopdingers don't come and steal all of his clothes," Luna said as she sat beside Ron.
"Loop whats-its?" Ron said looking around.
"Loopdingers," Luna said. "They attacked my uncle once. He had been at a bar with some friends, celebrating. The next morning he woke up on the steps to the Gringott's bank, and his clothes were nowhere to be seen. His friends swore that they knew nothing about it. He figured it had to be the Loopdingers, since they are so sneaky. That's what he told me."
Harry and Hermione laughed as Ron waved the cup at them.
There will be no Loopdingers at this party," he said.
After about an hour, Ron was beginning to sway on the couch.
"Ya know Harry, you're a goo' mate," he slurred.
"I'm glad you think so," Harry said, bemused despite the severity of the situation.
"You're better `n a mate, you're a brother. Better `n those gits I'm rela…rela…um…you know, those two," he took another swig of the firewhiskey. "Ca' you imashun! Makin' me a spray an not tellin' me how it works. `Didn' you know they'd be attracted to you `til you sweat `n activate it?'" he said in a sing-song voice before draining the cup again. Ron looked down at the cup as it refilled, and made a face.
Hermione smirked from where she was sitting at the table.
"What did you expect from them? Sweet and Sour Scent, I think they called it. Attract the spiders until you sweat, and then it makes them go away. I really liked that big furry one we saw in the forest. I think it had a crush on you."
Ron stuck his tongue out at her before flopping back on the couch and putting his arm around Luna's shoulders. He smiled down at her as she snuggled into his side. He took another sip, and the smile slid off of his face. He looked up at Harry with troubled eyes.
"It's gonna be okay, isn' it Harry?" he asked.
"Yeah, Ron, I promise," Harry said.
"I mean, you'll stop `im, won't you? You won't let him, you know, kill me," he said.
"I won't," Harry said.
"Thas' good," Ron said, " `Cause I can't let go…"
He shook his hand, trying to get rid of the cup, but it was stuck.
"Harry-" Ron whispered, and Harry could see how scared he really was, just before his eyes glazed over.
Hermione jumped up and came over, wand out, as she scanned the room. Luna had sat up and was staring fearfully at Ron; unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
"I can't find him," she whispered.
Harry took hold of his face, noticing that Ron was already becoming cold and pale.
"It's okay," Harry said as he tried to reassure her. "He's there, he's just being blocked. You know what to do," he said as he looked at Hermione.
She nodded worriedly. "Harry-"
"It'll be okay," he said. "Just remember to watch for some kind of sign."
"Harry, please," Luna said. "This isn't right,"
Harry took a deep breath and looked into Ron's sightless eyes.
"Legilimens," he said.
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